Apparatus for distilling wood.



No. 883,091. PATENTED MAR. 24, 1908..

3 W. BANNER. 4 APPARATUS FOR DISTILLING WOOD.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 9. 1907. 3 SHEETS-$11331 l.

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491 Homes gywhm 9? 5% No. 888,091. PATENTED MAR. 24, 1908. W. DANNER.

APPARATUQ FOR DISTILLING WOOD.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 9, 1907.

3SHEETS-SHEET 2.

7/70 isf Siam-w Q vi b1 mom WMZ WZ/ No. 883,091. PATENTED MAR. 24, 1908.

W. BANNER.

APPARATUS FOR DISTILLING WOOD.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 9, 1907.

a SHEETS-SHEET s.

lllHlll 31mm who:

7 Q 74 77/1302? fiarmer.

Q/Vihwoow alifozmet distillation for the production of creosote,turpentine, tar, commercial charcoal, etc.

- "vide a novel construction of apparatus in heating-and separating thevolatile elements th'us obviating the loss of timeand labor-c" tort maybe quickly and conveniently cooled.

- parts hereinafterfully described andclai'me'd,

UNITED STATES PATENT oFFicE.

WILLIAM BANNER, or NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA, .issionon or ONE-HALF TOJAMES D. LACEY, or CHICAGO, ILLINOIS. V

APPARATUS non ms'rIL'LING wool). i

To all whom it may concern: i

Be it known that I, l/VILLIAM DANN an, a citizen of the United States,residing atNew Orleans, intlie parish of Orleans and State of Louisiana,have invented new and useful Improvements in Apparatus for DistillingWood, of which the following is a speciiicati'on. Th s invention relatesto an a paratus for treat ng wood by the process 0 destructive Oneobjectof the invention is -to provide a novel construction of apparatusby which the process of distilling the wood may be carried out by theuse in a more efficient manner of both moist (ordinary live) steai'riand dry or superheated steam, whereby the elimination of the volatileconstituents ofthe wood may be effected in a cleanly, rapid andeconomical manner, Without liability of overinto their component gases'and thereby reducing the amount and deteriorating the quality of theproducts.

' A further object of the invention is to pro- Which a common oven orheating chamber may be used for a plurality of ortable retorts of animproved type, where y, after the process of distilling the wood in oneretort is completed, said retort may be removed from the chamber andanother retort inserted therein and the operation repeated, and soon,

NNith these and other objects in view, the invention consists of thefeatures of conr struction, combination and arrangement, of Ireferencebeing had to the accompanyingdrawings, in whichri F'gu e 'l -isa vertical longitudinal section ofa wood distilling ap aratus-embodyingmy I inventionpshowing. t e parts arranged for use.- Fig.2 isa rear endelevation of the Specification of Letters Patent. Application filed.July 9, 1907. Serial No. 382,956.

Patented March 24, 19013.

saine. Fig. 3 isa vertical transverse section through the apparatus.Fig. 4 is a front end elevation of the retort. Fig. is a detailvicwshowing the construction of the closure for the vapor outlet of theretort.

tion, I provide an oven or series of ovens'in connection with one ormore portable retorts for each oven, together with means for supplyinglive and superheated ste'anrto heat the oven and retort therein, thesteam supplying connections being, in the use ofa plurality of ovens,supplied from a common steam boiler or generator, the furnace of .whichmay be adapted to use as fuel the 1111- condensable gases or vaporsdriven fr0m the wood and confinedin the retort, thereby enablin theprocess to be carried out in a rapid, cleanly and economical manner.

In the drawings, 1 designates an oven or heating chamber, which ispreferably of the construction disclosed; that is, comprises acorrugated sheet metal body 2 open at its forward end and closed at itsrear end by a head 3-, said body being inclosed by anon conductingiacket to diminish orprevent the radiation of heat, which jacket, in theform shown, consists of inner and outer layers 4 and- 5 ofnon-conducting material, and a covering 6 of canvas or the like.properly secured in position. v

A detachable door 7 is provided to close the open front end of the oven,and is constructed to form a pocket for the reception of av body ofnon-conducting material 8 to prevent the loss of heat. by radiation.there- 'through. The door is formed at intervals around its marginaledge with slots or notches 9 o ening outwardly therethrough and adapte(to receive swivel or swing b0 ts 10 piw'otally mounted upon aholding-ring 11 surrounding the rear end .of the oven. body, said boltsbeing equipped with clamping nuts 12 by which the cover may be securelyfastened in position. A packin ring or gasket 13 is seated in a recessin t e rin 11 andv adapted to bear snugly against, thedoor' or cover tohermetically seal the joint and prevent the escape of the confined heatand vapors.

' -A ipe 14 leads froni tlie bottom of the close( end of the oven andserves as an outlet In the practical embodiment of my invenfor the tarand is provided with a controlling valve 15. ,This outlet connects witha conducting pipe 16 which may be connected by 45 of the oven is a va oroutlet 29 closed at its and conduction of all Vapors distilled at asimilar-valved outlets to a series or'battery of ovens and leads inpractice to a suitable tar -l8061V61.

Airranged transversely at the rear of the oven and in close proximity tothe head 3. are

' steam supply pipes 17 and 18 which connect inpractice with the boileror steam generav to r'. The pipe :17 is for the supply of superheatedsteam and is provided with a series of preferably three pendent branches19, and 21, provided with controlling valves 22. Each branch 19 and 20connects at its lower end with a plurality of discharge pipes 23connected by suitable 'cou lings therewith and extending therefrom trough the head 3 and longitudinally along the bottom'of the oven. Thepipes 23 connected with each of the respective branch pipes 19 and 20extend longitudinally Within the oven on opposite sides of thelongitudinalcenter thereof and are properly arranged to lie in the spacebetween the same and the inserted retort and are perforated for thedischarge of the superheated may: be supplied to heat the interior ofthe.

steam into the oven, whereby the latter is heated. The pipe 18 isprovided for the supply of ordinary moist or livesteam to the retort, ndto this end is provided with a pendent oranch 24 having a controllingvalve 25 and connecting at its lower end with the intermediate branchpipe 21 of the pipe 17, which pipe 21 is provided, as before described,with a controlling valve 22', and is connected at its lower end throughsuitable couplings with a plurality or series of preferably threenozzles 26 extending through the head 3 a short distance into the ovenabove the level of the pipes 23.

A. steam pi e 27 leads from the pipe 17 to and. throng the tarconducting pipe 16 so that a proper amount of steam ipe '16 to eep thetar in a liquid condition and prevent it from clogging on its passage,said pipe 27 being provided with a controlling valve 28. Leading fromtheupper rear end I upper end and rovided withlater'al branches 30 and31 having controlling valves 3t)- and- 31. The branch 30 is arrangedabove the branch 31 and is employed for the discharge temperature'of 375F. and under to a suitable,condenser, while the branch 31 is em.-

ployed for the discharge and conduction of," all. vapors distilled at atemperature'above 375 F. to a separate condenser, thus providing for theseparate condensation of the vapors from which the turpentine andcreosote are formed. a

. Arranged on the interior. of the oven are track rails 32 adapted tosupport a retort 33, provided with wheels 34 to rest andtravel on saidrails.

The retort is of sufficientlyless diameter than. the oven to leave ann-f tervening surrounding space or chamber for the reception of thesteam from the pipes 23 and the circulation of the evolved vapors beforetheir discharge through the outlet 29. The retort is constructed ofsheet-metal and is closed at its rear end and provided at the lowerportion of its front end with a door way or opening for the withdrawalof the carbonized wood remaining at thetcomple' tion of the distillingoperation. This doorway is adapted to be closed by a hinged door 35formed with slots in its edges to receive swing bolts 36 pivoted to theretort body, said bolts being equipped with securing nuts 37 to fastenthe door in closed position. The mode of manipulating the sets of boltsl0 and 36 to fasten and release the respective :ing the process ofcooling the retort, and. is formed with a depending flange 44 to seatwithin said channel or recess. It will be observed that the wall -isrelatively higher than the wall 41, which latter limits the effectivedepth of the channel or recess, thus providing for a liquid scaling ofthe joint between the door and walls of the opening, without liabilityof theliquid entering the retort to prevent entrance of air into theretort during the operation of cooling and final stage of carbonizingthe wood residue, as hereinafter described.

Perforated live steam supply pipes 45 eX- tend longitudinally along thebase of the retort and are designed to discharge the This opening issteam therefrom upward through the body of Wood partially restingthereon. The forward ends of the pipes terminate in rear of thedoor Wayclosed by the door 35, while the rear ends'thereof extend through therear end/of the retort and are flared to provide bell-mouths 46 toreceive and effect a coupling connection with the inner ends of'thenozzles .26 hen the retort is inserted as shown in Fig. 1, whereby steamfrom the steam supply connection will be furnished to the retort fordischarge through the pipes 45. .The arrangement of the parts is suchthat the coupling ends 46 of pipes 45 will aline with the nozzles 26.and be, brought automatically into connection'therewith upon theinsertion of. the retort to its proper operative posltion .within the.oven. A tar outlet 47 is formed in the bottom of the retort and soarranged as to overlie the outlet 14 whefn the retort is in position,and this outlet maybe closed when th e ret'ort is removed by a plug 48.At the rear end of the retort a hook or other draft connection 49 Fig. 1is provided for the attachment of a rope or cablet'oienable the retortto be conveniently drawn into the oven. This rope or cable will extendoutwardly for operation through'an; 0 ening 50 formed in the head 3,through w ich said rope or cable may also be withdrawn after the retortis inserted, The opening5O is designed to be closed by a screwcap 51during the distilling operation. l

In 0 oration, the retort is first illiteas wood ivided into pieces of asuitable size to' .be commercially available as charcoal after of thetar, the valve 30 opened for the dis-' charge of the lighterturpentinevapors, and the valves 22 of the branch pipes 19 and 20 andvalve 25 of branch pipe24sopened for the respective supply ofsuperheated steam and live steam through the pipes 23 and to theinterior ofthe oven and interior of the retort, the 'valve 31- in thevapor outlet branch 31 and the valve 22 in the branch 21 remainingclosed As a result, the retort will=be heated to distil the wood, thetar fromwhich will discharge through. the outlet 40 and pipe 14, whilethe vapors will pass through'the opening 38 into the oven andthencedischarge through the pipe 30. When'all the turpentine vapors are drivenofl','thevalve 22 in branch pipe 21 and valve 31 in vapor outlet 31 areopened and the v'alves25 and 30 fclosed, where'upon superheated steamwill be supplied to both the oven and retort to increase the temperatureand the heavier volatile vapors evolved from the wood will be dischargedthrough the vapor, outlet 31. Under this increase of temperature all-the volatile-constituents of the wood will be driven therefrom and. the

wpod will be carbonized. When the car-- bonizing action has progressedto the desired degree, the valves, 22 are'closedto cutoff the supply ofsteam to the ovenand retort, which are allowed to cool for a period ofsay two hours, when the valves 15 and 31 are closed,,thedoor 7 detachedand the retortredrawn from the oven,';after'wh1ch the tar 6O outlet 47is closed by the plug 48 and the outlet 38 closed by the cover 43. Waterfrom a suitable overhead pipe is then sprayed-down ,upon the closedretort, the pipes 45' of which are also closed at their end-s46 bysuitable caps or plugs, until the retort is thoroughly cooled, duringthe progress of which another filledretort is run into the oven for asecond distilling operation,

and in this manner retort after {retort "is in- "serted and removed,thus en'ab'ling a con-- -:tinuous distilling action to becarried Jonwith the attendant result- 'oijecononiyfof operation,inasniuch as theshutting down of the apparatus for any considerable length of timeislavoided. During'the operation of cooling the retort the water flowsinto,- the channel 42 and efi'ectsa seal to prevent the escape ofthe'remaining vapors and entrance of water to the interior,thevaporsbeing ex tracted in any convenient manner for use as fuel. Itwill be observed that by extendin r the wall 40 above the wall 41 of'thechanne 42, the liquid will however the wall 41 after the-channel iscompletely iilled,while the greater height of ,thewall 40 will preventthe .overflow liquid" irony entering the retort through the outlet 38.After thefretort has been cooled, the wood, which has by the op-.eration described been carbonized into commercial charcoal, is removedby opening the door and tilting the retort to discharge the wood throughthe door way.

As beforedescribed, a series of ovens may be employed and a, seriesoiretorts used in connection with each other, and the uncondensable vaporsmay be conducted from the parts of the apparatus in any 'suitablemannerand utilized as fuel for the burners'or furnace of the steamgeneratonithus securing further economy. The saving in point of time andlabor eiiected byrthe construction 1 of the apparatus forcontinuous-useand avoidance of the necessity of shuttingdown for anyconsiderable period will be appreciated, and owing to the use ofliveandsu r erheated steam as the heating agent, it Wil be apparent that thedistilling process may be carried out in a cleanly manner and the tern'perature controlled more efhcientlyto re-' vent the separation of thevapors into tieircomponent gases, by which a greater quantity and higherquality otproducts are ob- 'tained. Incidentally, also, the conversionof the wood residue into commerc1al charcoal allows this usual wastematerial to be sold. as fuel, thus further decreasing the cost ofmaintaining and o erating the plant.

Having thus descri ed the invention, What I claim as new and desire tosecure by Let- ,ters Patent is l 1. In a distilling apparatus, thecombina- Y tion'of ahorizontal oven closed at oneend and provided with adoorway at its opposite end, a door for closing said doorway, trackrails extending longitudinally within the oven, a

, retort comprising a vessel closed at one end and providedwith adoorwaycat its opposite end, and a door forclosing thesame, said'retortbeing provided with wheels 'to traverse said rails, heating pipesextending longitudinally within. the oven, heating pipes extendinglongitudinally within the retort and having entrance ends projectingthrough vthe closed head thereof, steam supply nozzles adapted toautomatically couple with and uncouple from said entrance ends upon theinsm'tion'ainl removal of the retort, and a system of valve supply pipesfor supplying superheated steam to the pipes within the oven and eitherlive or superheated steam. to the nozzle.

2. In a distilling apparatus, the combination of a horizontal retorthaving track rails therein and closed at one end and provided with adoorway at its opposite end, a door for closing the doorway, a retortcomprising a vessel having an opening and a closure therefor at one endand provided with a vapor outlet in. the top thereof, a 'vapor dischargepipe leading fromthe oven and provided with valved branches located. atdifferent elevations, heating pipes extending longitudinally within theoven, heating pipes within the retort having their inlet ends projectingthrough the closed end Wall thereof, steam supply pipes upon the closedend of the oven including nozzles to telescopically engage the inletends of the retort pipes, main live and superheated steam supply )i. esand valves controllin the assa e of 7 D D steam. and arranged for thesupply of superheated steam to the oven and either live or superheatedsteam at will to the retort.

3. In a distilling apparatus, an oven closed at one end and open at theother end, the

closed end being provided With an opening, a

door for closing the open end of the oven, a removable retort having anopen end provided with a door and-a closed end provided with a draftmember for connection with a cable or the like adapted to pass throughthe said opening in the closed end of the oven, a closure for saidopening, and meansfor supplying a heating medium to the oven and retort.

4. In a distilling apparatus, an oven, a retort insertible there n andwithdrawable therefrom, pipes for supplying superheated steam to theoven, nozzles for supplying live steam to the retort, steam pipes uponthe retort adapted to connect with said nozzles, and valves controllingthe first named pipes and nozzles for supplying superheated steam to theoven and either live or superheated steam to the retort.

5. In a distilling apparatus, the combination of an oven, a retortdisposed therein. said oven and retort being provided with heatingpipes, main live and superheated steam supply. pipes arranged exteriorlyat one end of the oven, valve branches from the superheated steam supplypipe to supply steam therefrom to the oven pipes, and branches from bothmain supply pipes for the supply at will of either live or superheatedsteam to the retort pipe, said branches being provided with valvescontrolling the flow of steam from the respective main pipes.

6. In a distilling apparatus, the combination of an oven provided withsteam heating pipes, a retort therein provided with steam heating pipes,main live and superheated steam supply pipes disposed exteriorly at oneend of the oven, branches from the superheated steam supply pipe to theoven heating pipes, valves controlling the same, associated connectionsfrom both supply pipes to the retort heating pipes, and valves forcontrolling said connections, whereby either live or superheated steammay be supplied at will to the retort pipes.

7 In a turpentine distilling appar: even, a retort therein, means forsup J superheated steam to the oven, means for mdependently supplyingeither'live or superheated steam to the retort, and means for supplyingboth kinds of steam to the retort in a commingled condition.

In testimony whereof, I aflix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

WILLIAM DANNER.

Witnessesf J. R. UP'roN,

F. H. DU nsELEw,

